To Avoid Swarming. 215 



the sides. True, Mr. Heddon objects to this work of feeding 

 and manipulating division boards, and makes much honey and 

 money. I have often wondered what his genius and skill 

 would accomplish should he vary his method in this respect. 

 Instead of feeding by use of the Smith (Fig. 76) or other feeder, 

 we may uncap a comb of honey and with it separate combs of 

 brood as the bees get two or three fuU frames of the latter. 

 This will stimulate the bees, and as they will carry the honey 

 from the uncapped cells the queen will be impelled to most 

 rapid laying. By turning around the brood coombs, or sepa- 

 rating them by adding combs with empty cells as the colonies 

 gain in strength, we hasten brood-rearing to the utmost. 



TO AVOID THE SWARMING FEVER. 



This is not always possible by any method, and has been 

 the obstacle in the way of successful comb-honey production. 

 The swarming impulse and great yields of this delectable prod- 

 uct are entirely antagonistic. Mr. James Heddon, Davis, 

 and others let the bees swarm. They hive these swarms on 

 foundation, and hope to have this all done, and both colonies 

 strong, in time for the honey harvest. Some of our best Mich- 

 igan and New York bee-keepers, with Dr. Miller, let the bees 

 swarm, and return them, either caging the queen or placing 

 her in a nucleus for nine days, then return her to the bees, 

 after cutting out the queen cells. This takes nothing from 

 the energy of the bees, and will doubtless work best of all 

 methods in the hands of the beginner. If increase is desired, 

 however, then Mr. Heddon's method should be followed. The 

 yield of comb-honey in this last case will not usually be so 

 great, though in excellent seasons it may be greater. 



Some very able bee-keepers manipulate so skillfully, by 

 adding empty combs to the hives, as to keep this swarming im- 

 pulse in check, and still keep the bees increasing most rapidly. 

 Others divide the colonies, and so hold at bay the swarm- 

 ing fever. All must practice as their own experience proves 

 best, as the same method will not have equal value with differ- 

 ent persons. We must work as best we can to secure strong 

 colonies, and check or retard the swarming fever, and while 

 learning by experience to do this, may well work the most of 

 our bees for extracted honey, which is more easily secured, 



